‘We'll teach them how to run away from alligators': Trump visits ‘Alligator Alcatraz' detention centre
He added, 'Don't run in a straight line. Run like this. Your chances go up about 1%.' But experts at the University of Florida say that's not accurate they advise people to run straight if chased by an alligator.
The facility, which has been nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' is already drawing criticism from immigrant rights groups, environmentalists, and local residents. Built quickly on a remote airstrip using trailers and tents, the centre could begin holding migrants in the coming days. The location is roughly 80 km west of Miami and surrounded by protected swampland.
According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who joined Trump on the tour, the centre will soon be ready to hold 3,000 detainees. Earlier reports had suggested it could house up to 5,000.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the site sends a strong message to migrants. 'There's only one road leading in, and the only way out is a one-way flight,' she said. 'It's isolated and surrounded by dangerous wildlife and unforgiving terrain.'
Trump's visit comes as his administration speeds up preparations for mass deportations. The Everglades facility is one of several new centres being built to increase detention capacity. During his first term, in 2019, Trump denied claims that he had suggested digging a moat with alligators at the southern border. Now, his administration is openly using the Everglades' harsh environment to send a message.
Some of Trump's past ideas such as reopening Alcatraz or using Guantánamo Bay to detain immigrants were too expensive or impractical. But the Everglades facility, state officials say, was completed quickly and at lower cost.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told the Associated Press that Florida built it faster and more cheaply than private contractors. 'It was a real solution that we'll be able to use if we need to,' she said.
Not everyone agrees. Protesters gathered outside the site during Trump's visit, including Native American leaders who say the land is sacred. Others raised concerns about detaining migrants in a remote, wildlife-heavy area.
'I have a lot of immigrants I've worked with,' said Phyllis Andrews, a retired teacher. 'They are fine people. They do not deserve to be incarcerated here.'
The Florida Republican Party has used the project to raise funds, selling merchandise with slogans about the centre. Images shared by the Department of Homeland Security even featured cartoon alligators wearing ICE hats.
Governor DeSantis told reporters, 'They ain't going anywhere once they're there… The security is amazing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
11 minutes ago
- India Today
10,300 Indian illegal immigrants caught at US border in 2025. That's a 70% dip
There has been a 70% decline in Indians attempting to illegally enter the US between January and May 2025, with 10,382 Indian nationals, primarily from Gujarat, arrested during this period, seeking to enter the United States. This also included 30 unaccompanied development comes amid tighter border controls and raids on illegal immigrants under President Donald data was released by US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP).advertisement This is a substantial decrease from 34,535 arrests between January-May 2024 to 10,382 in the same period in 2025, averaging 69 daily arrests. During the same corresponding period in 2024, the daily arrest average was around 230 under the Joe Biden Donald Trump's return to power, many of these smuggling syndicates began scaling back their operations in late 2024, according to a report in The Times of India."The moment it became clear Trump would likely win again, routes started drying up," a source connected to a Gujarat-based human smuggling ring told desire to migrate remains strong, but smugglers have either reduced their activity or increased their fees, and fears of tougher deportation policies are very real, according to the data also reflects a wider drop in border apprehensions across all nationalities – from 81,492 in January down to 28,617 in February – while it remained over 29,000 in the next three months. A total of 590,069 illegal immigrants were caught while entering the US, according to the total of 1,233,959 illegal immigrants were caught during the same corresponding period in OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS FROM INDIAIn fiscal year 2024, US authorities apprehended over 500 unaccompanied Indian minors. Now, under the Trump administration, there's a much tougher stance on "unaccompanied children" left at the border by their of individuals, including those from India, leave their children on the US-Mexico or US-Canada border in the hope that they will be taken in and granted American suggest children are often in the age bracket of 12-17, but sometimes they are younger to an April 2024 report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there are an estimated 2.2 lakh (220,000) undocumented Indians living in the US. Since January 2025, more than 332 Indians have been people from India keep trying to enter the US, often via perilous routes. Migrants sometimes take risky sea routes offered by smugglers to bypass heavily fortified land borders. On May 9, a tragic boat accident occurred near Del Mar, California, in which a 14-year-old Indian boy and his 10-year-old sister died off the coast of boats often depart from Mexico's coast, sometimes travelling hundreds of October 2024, the US Coast Guard has tracked 277 vessels suspiciously entering US waters from Mexico in the San Diego area.- Ends
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
McDonald's expands menu with new burger to its menu; What it is, price and where you can get
McDonald's has expanded its value meal package by introducing a new burger to its nationwide menu. McDonald's stated on its website that it is "moving up to the big leagues" after launching the Daily Double in Chicago, Miami, and Seattle.(Unsplash) McDonald's stated on its website that it is "moving up to the big leagues" after launching the Daily Double in Chicago, Miami, and Seattle. American cheese, two beef patties, shredded lettuce, sliced onions, tomato, and mayonnaise are all included in the Daily Double, which will appear on McDonald's McValue Meal Deal bundle menu on July 22. Starting at $5, the Meal Deal bundle comes with a 4-piece chicken McNugget, small fries, a small soft drink, and a selection of sandwiches. At the moment, there are two sandwich options: a McDouble and a McChicken. 'You're getting more, for less' when you choose the Daily Double option in the Meal Deal bundle, according to McDonald's. Boycott against McDonald's The burger was launched when a grassroots campaign organization, the People's Union USA, planned a week-long boycott of McDonald's. The boycott, which took place from June 24 to 30, was announced on Instagram by the group, which accused the restaurant chain of overcharging customers and other business misconduct. McDonald's strongly refutes claims of price gouging. In May, McDonald's USA president Joe Erlinger stated in an open letter that franchisees determine the menu prices for their eateries. 'In doing so, they work hard to minimize the impact of price increases on our fans,' the president said. In the past, the People's Union USA has advocated for boycotts of General Mills, Nestlé, Walmart, and Amazon. Also Read: US revises travel warning for Israel as Iran issues 'fatwa' against Trump, Netanyahu; Full details here McDonald's launches new two treats for customers Last month, McDonald's introduced two new ice cream treats, including Hershey's S'mores McFlurry. Hershey's milk chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, and vanilla soft serve are the ingredients that are used in making the McFlurry. According to McDonald's website, 'Whether you're looking to grab a sweet snack before lounging around the campfire or looking to satisfy your summer craving, the HERSHEY'S S'mores McFlurry will be your go-to summer dessert.' For a brief period, McDonald's also offered a Blueberry & Crème Pie, which is filled with vanilla crème and blueberries rather than the traditional apple filling. Its portable baked apple pie is the restaurant chain's signature dish.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump tax-cut plan returns to US House, Republicans divided on bill
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The debate within President Donald Trump 's Republican Party over a massive tax-cut and spending bill returns to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, as party leaders try to overcome internal divisions and meet a self-imposed July 4 Senate passed the legislation, which nonpartisan analysts say will add $3.3 trillion to the nation's debt over the next decade, by the narrowest possible margin on Tuesday after intense debate on the bill's hefty price tag and substantial cuts to the Medicaid health care divides exist in the House, which Republicans control by a 220-212 margin and where a fractious caucus has regularly bucked its leadership in recent years -- though members have so far not rejected major Trump priorities."The House will work quickly to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill that enacts President Trump's full America First agenda by the Fourth of July," House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement on Tuesday, citing the bill's extension of Trump's 2017 individual tax cuts and increased funding for the military and immigration Republican leaders set an initial procedural vote on the bill for 9 a.m. ET (1300 GMT).Some of the loudest Republican objections against it come from party hardliners angry that it does not sufficiently cut spending and a $5 trillion increase in the nation's debt ceiling, which lawmakers must address in the coming months or risk a devastating default on the nation's $36.2 trillion debt."What the Senate did was unconscionable," said Representative Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican, one of several fiscal hawks who spoke out against the Senate bill's higher price tag, accusing the Senate of handing out "goodie bags" of spending to satisfy said he would vote against advancing the bill on are united in opposition to the bill, saying that its tax breaks disproportionately benefit the wealthy, while cutting services that lower- and middle-income Americans rely on. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that almost 12 million people could lose health insurance as a result of the bill."This is the largest assault on American healthcare in history," Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday, pledging that his party will use "all procedural and legislative options" to try to stop - or delay - version of the bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday would add more to the debt than the version first passed by the House in May and also includes more than $900 million in cuts to the Medicaid program for low-income cuts also raised concerns among some House Republicans "I will not support a final bill that eliminates vital funding our hospitals rely on," Representative David Valadao of California said before Senate difficultiesBut some House Republicans worried about social safety-net cuts could find solace in the Senate's last-minute decision to set aside more money for rural hospitals, funding that Representative Nick Langworthy, a New York Republican, called "a lifeline that will be very helpful to districts like mine."Any changes made by the House would require another Senate vote, making it all but impossible to meet the July 4 complicating the timeline, a wave of storms in the Washington area on Tuesday night canceled flights, and some lawmakers from both parties detailed on social media plans to drive from their home districts to the Capitol for Wednesday's expected vote.A senior White House official said on Tuesday that Trump is expected to be "deeply involved" in the whip operation this for weeks has pushed for passage ahead of the July 4 Independence Day holiday, though he has also in recent days softened that deadline, describing it as less than public opposition to the bill risks irking Trump, as was the case when the president slammed Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who announced his retirement after coming out in opposition to the former Trump ally, the world's richest person Elon Musk, this week resumed an active campaign against the bill over social media, blasting its deficit-building effects. That has reignited a feud between Trump and Musk.
